# Pipeline Safety Interpretation PI-94-018

**Citation:** PI-94-018  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1994-04-29

PI-94-018 concerning 199.3.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

April 29, 1994
This is in response to your correspondence of January 11, 1994, requesting an interpretation
regarding functions performed by Conoco Pipeline “ call-out” personnel and whether these
functions are covered under the Department of Transportation, Research and Special Programs
Administration (RSPA) drug testing regulations at 49 CFR 199.7(a). Your correspondence
indicates these call-out personnel are located in close proximity to the pump stations and provide
a convenience factor for our full-time operating personnel.
You stated that instead of Houston Oil Movements calling a technician who is 3-hours from the
pump station, they contact the call-out employee to go to the pump station for a preliminary
investigation. If the problem is minor, i.e., resetting the alarm, the call-out will reset and let
Houston know. If the problem is something other than that or will not go away, then the call-out
will call the technician or the area supervisor and turn the problem over to them. Other job
functions include doing nothing but observing and reporting problems to others; weekly pump
station checks; pump sump - usually this is into the mainline; check CDR injection - might purge
out the system; resets alarm - if alarm will not reset, will call appropriate personnel; and will not
perform emergency response.
Based on the information you provided it would appear that the call-out employees do perform
operation, maintenance, or emergency-response functions on the pipeline and they would be
regulated under the regulations contained in 49 CFR Parts 192, 193, or 195.
Thank you for your inquiry. Please let me know if you need additional information about our
drug testing requirements.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Rippert
Drug and Alcohol Program Manager
Office of Pipeline Safety
Compliance
dal/199.1
94/04/29

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/pipeline/interpretations/76361/pi-94018.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `f9948256e9d0ee1438b61f5ddb0059eac9d2b82f5cda25ed491bb0a7cb67a1c2`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T05:01:28.637Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-pi-94-018`

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